Complete Travel Guide To Explore Gulmarg Gondola!

Gulmarg Gondola is the second longest and second-highest cable car around the world and the main attraction of Gulmarg is known for. Separated into two phases, it ferries almost 600 individuals per hour to and from Apharwat Mountain, which is where most of the winter sports occur in Gulmarg.

Phase 1 of Gulmarg Gondola ferries individuals from Gulmarg Resort to Kongdoori Station (middle station). It begins at 2,990 m and has a vertical upsurge of 400 m. Every hour it ferries 1500 individuals to the height of 3100 m from where different easy runs for skiing are available. Phase 2 of Gulmarg Gondola links Kongdoori Mountain to Apharwat Peak.

The cable car ascends 1,330 vertical meters to an altitude of approximately 4,000m and carries 600 individuals per hour. After reaching the station, you can further have a 30 minutes trek to arrive at the top of the mountain. From this place, the LOC or the Line of Control is perceptible.

The Gulmarg Gondola affords a wonderful view of Nanda Devi, LOC, and the Pir Panjal range. Apart from valuing the beauty of Himalayan ranges, tourists can celebrate other activities such as horse riding and snow skiing. This Gulmarg Gondola travel guide will be useful for your trip.

Location 

It is situated nearly 53 km from Srinagar. The lengthiest ski run can be arrived by Gondola Cable Car Lift which ranges up to 2,213 meters. This means you nearly reach Mount Apharwat peak at 3,980 meters above sea level, which is measured to be one of the best ski spots in India. Linking Gulmarg to the topmost of Apharwat, the Gulmarg Gondola covers a complete aerial distance of 5 km and is the second-highest cable car in the world. 

Climatic Conditions 

Temperature – The air temperature throughout the season of summer varies between 13°C and 29°C. Weather – the weather of Gulmarg in summer is far more enjoyable than that of winter as temperatures are greater and the sun is pleasanter.

Places To Visit

Alpather Lake

Alpather Lake is a high-altitude lake set between the twin Apharwat Peak in Gulmarg. It is prevalently known as the Frozen Lake as it remains wholly frozen from November to June. It is prevalent for the one-day trek which begins from Gulmarg and covers a distance of nearly 13km.

Drung Waterfall

Drung Waterfall is an enormously popular tourist attraction situated in the Tangmarg tehsil of Gulmarg, Baramulla. A gushing waterfall set amidst grand mountains, it freezes wholly during winter owing to the tremendously low temperature. This beautiful frozen waterfall is a must-visit in the area.

St Mary’s Church

Standing tall, even after 100 odd years, is this Victorian architectural marvel of the Saint Mary’s Church situated near the Golf Course in Gulmarg. This might well be your messiah to undergoing the ancient architectural wonders that our country is the most celebrated for. The church is reachable only by trekking and is well known for its blemished glass artwork.

More like a minute countryside chapel in appearance, St Mary’s church is made of grey stone walls. It guises the most scintillating throughout the winter season especially when it is enclosed by snow.

Tangmarg

Tangmarg is a small town in the Baramulla district of Kashmir, nearly 13km from Gulmarg. Better known as the gateway to Gulmarg, the major lures in this tiny hamlet involve Baba Reshi Shrine, Baderkoot, Ningle Nallah, and Gogaldara, among others. Tangmarg is the primary stop for all private buses and rented cars traveling from Srinagar to Gulmarg. 

Recommended For

Gulmarg is one of the most attractive and beautiful hill stations in Jammu and Kashmir. Throughout the winter season, it becomes a cross-country hub. This is probably because of the Gulmarg gondola, the second-highest cable car network around the world. You can cover an aerial distance of 5 km within half an hour via the gondola.

The complete route is separated into three phases and it is not essential to travel to the top. You can stop at the initial phase if you want or go to the topmost, taking all the 3 gondola rides and mounting for half an hour. The insights from all the phases are attractive – you can see the peak of Nanda Devi and even the LOC. 

Timing to Visit

Summer from March to June is the best time to visit Gulmarg. The beautiful hill station is often visited for the audacious opportunities that expect visitors and the scenic insights of the surroundings from the town. If you are a nature fanatic who loves the heat, the months of April, May, and June are the best months of the year for a visit.

Gulmarg is also better known as the ‘meadow of flowers’ owing to the fields of flourishing flowers that cover the lands of the city during Summer. However, if skiing is what you are looking forward to, December to mid-March is suggested.

Tickets

Tickets can be attained from the online portal of Jammu & Kashmir cable car corporation or arrive at the Gandola counter in Gulmarg to gain tickets. It is always prudent to book the tickets in advance as offline tickets might not be accessible in peak seasons. By reading this Gulmarg Gondola travel guide you will get an idea about the ticket fairs in Gulmarg.

From Gulmarg to Kungdoor, the ticket price for Phase 1, is Rs. 740 per person. From Kungdoor to Apharwat peak, the fare for the second phase, from Kungdoor to Apharwat peak is Rs. 950 per person. The fare of Gulmarg Gondola is dissimilar for both phases. You will be purchasing from the same counter but in fact, will receive two dissimilar tickets.

How to Reach? 

The Gondola’s beginning point is 20 minutes away from Gulmarg. You can take a cab or taxi or walk your way to it.

Interesting Facts about the Gulmarg Gondola 

• Among one of the topmost honeymoon destinations around India, Gulmarg boasts of being an attractive town without a crowd such as Manali and Shimla.
• In Gulmarg, there are a lot of other private tour operators which carry similar courses and amenities for skiing, snowboarding, and trekking.
• The Gondola ride remains open throughout the year excluding the times when the weather is a bit life-threatening; particularly during winter and monsoon season. If it is snowing a bit too much or raining with extreme winds then the ride is shut for safety causes.

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